Atlantic’s Art Galletta sees good quality of Jersey blueberries
Atlantic’s Art Galletta sees good quality of Jersey blueberries
HAMMONTON, NJ — Although this past winter caused a little damage in some parts of New Jersey’s blueberry acreage, the state should still see strong volume with good quality, according to Art Galletta, president of Atlantic Blueberry Co.
“There was some weather damage in parts of the northern growing areas” of the state, Galletta told The Produce News Wednesday, May 27, at his office here. “Southern growing areas look fine.”
Rob Galletta, Art Galletta and John Galletta in a field of Duke variety blueberries at the end of May. (Photo by Gordon M. Hochberg)On the volume side for the state, “Overall, New Jersey will have a good crop,” he stated. “Maybe not a record crop, but a good crop. I would think around 55-60 million pounds.”
Asked about quality of the upcoming crop, Galletta replied, “Right now the quality looks real good. Size should be real good generally.”
For his own company, which has been owned and operated by the Galletta family for more than 75 years and which is headquartered here in the southern part of the state, “Our crop looks real good,” he said. “We’re looking forward to a good crop.” He expected Atlantic to start harvesting “somewhere around June 15-18.” He declined to give specific volume figures for Atlantic, but did say, “We should have better volume than last year,” as “there was some frost damage last year.”
Atlantic will be installing new heat-seal equipment which will be used to heat-seal containers for blueberries, Galletta announced. The new piece of equipment, which he said carried a price in the “upper six figures,” will be used “in an effort to reduce the amount of plastic in the packaging.” This will be used “as a trial in select areas with select retailers,” he added.
With the start of the Jersey blueberry season a few weeks away, Galletta said that blueberries from Oregon, Washington state and British Columbia would probably start “a little sooner than normal, so there could be some overlap of the Northwest and New Jersey around mid-July.” In a normal season, “New Jersey is finishing when the Northwest gets going,” he added. “So this year all the marketers will have to be on their game.”
